Canadian wrestling team selected for the 12th FISU world university wrestling Championship
Official website: http://www.wuwc2016.com/
FISU website: http://www.fisu.net/en
Team Canada is headlined by the UNB’s Samantha Stewart (London, Ont.) and Alyssa Cleaves (St. Stephen, N.B.). A two-time U Sports wrestling champion, Stewart won bronze at the 2014 world university championship in the 55 Kg division, while Cleaves earned gold in the 48 Kg event at the 2016 CIS Championship en route to being named women’s outstanding wrestler.
A pair of Pan American Games medalists are also making the trip to Turkey. Simon Fraser’s Justina Di Stacio (Burnaby, B.C.) took home a silver medal at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto and Western’s Steven Takahashi (London, Ont.) captured bronze at the 2011 Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Takahashi also represented Canada at 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, along with Concordia’s Jordan Steen.
More than half the of the roster is made up of national team athletes, in addition to three members of the reigning U Sports champion Brock Badgers.
Canada won a combined eight medals at the 2014 world university championship and 2013 Universiade.
Don Ryan, president of Wrestling Canada, and head coach of the UNB wrestling team, will serve as Team Leader in Turkey.
He will be joined by two-time Olympian David McKay (1984, 1988), 2008 Olympian and Concordia assistant coach David Zilberman, and Western University assistant David Spinney. Rick Lau rounds out the group as the team’s medical staff.
Canadian Roster
Name University Hometown Academics
Brianne Barry York London, Ont. Economics
Jessica Brouillette Brock North York, Ont. Sociology
Allyssa Cleaves UNB Sault Ste Marie, Ont. Civil Engineering
Justina Di Stacio Simon Fraser Burnaby, B.C. English
Veronica Keefe Concordia Summerside, P.E.I. Arts & Science
Linda Morais Concordia Windsor, Ont. Arts & Science
Emily Schaefer Brock Sarnia, Ont. Math & Science
Samantha Stewart UNB London, Ont. Education
Jevon Balfour Brock Scarborough, Ont. Arts
Amarveer Dhesi Oregon State Surrey, B.C. Sociology
Jordan Steen Concordia Montreal, Que. Arts & Science
Steven Takahashi Western London, Ont. Health Science
Dillon Williams Durham College Mississauga, Ont. Fire Fighting
Caleb Rutner Western Winnipeg, Man. History
Alexander Thoms UNB Lake Charlotte, N.S. Kinesiology
Team Leader: Don Ryan (UNB/Wrestling Canada)
Coaches: David Zilberman (Concordia University), David Spinney (Western University), David McKay
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